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Jeremy Maestas NRCS State Habitat Biologist -Oregon. Greater. Greater. Potential risk factors for sage-grouse in Oregon. Wildfire Invasive weeds Juniper expansion Prescribed fire Vegetation treatments (e.g., sagebrush removal) Improper livestock grazing Predation
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Jeremy Maestas NRCS State Habitat Biologist -Oregon
Greater Greater
Potential risk factors for sage-grouse in Oregon Wildfire Invasive weeds Juniper expansion Prescribed fire Vegetation treatments (e.g., sagebrush removal) Improper livestock grazing Predation Realty (e.g., land use changes) Energy development and transmission Recreation West Nile Virus
Oregon’s Strategic Approach • Pick “low-hanging fruit” first • Targeted Threat: Juniper Expansion • Focus resources in the right places
Maximizing Biological ROI Phase I (early) Phase II (mid) Phase III (late) ~212,000 acres Phase I & II juniper on private land within 3 miles of leks
Oregon’s Sage-Grouse Initiative Targeted Sage-Grouse Areas
Objective: Treat one quarter of the problem (53,000 ac) on private lands by the end of 2012
National Sage-Grouse Initiative PURPOSE: Strategically focus resources to alleviate threats to sage-grouse and improve the sustainability of working ranches March 2010, $16 million in EQIP and WHIP made available to 11 western states “Implement the right practices, in the right locations, at the appropriate scale”
Oregon Results – FY10 28 landowner contracts $2.3 million obligated 20,656 acres of juniper removal
FY10 Range-Wide Accomplishments – $18.5 M obligated Improve Grazing Management 640,000 Ac Remove Conifers Restore Vegetation in Degraded Areas 40,000 Ac 11,000 Ac Remove/Mark Problematic Fences 318 Retrofit Troughs with Escape Ramps 941,000 Ft (180 mi)
FY11 Funding $3.5 million available in Oregon (EQIP and WHIP) Strong interest so far (~50 apps)
Effectiveness Monitoring • BLM, NRCS, ODFW, U of I, landowners • 150 radio-marked birds • Treat 27,000 ac public & private over next 5 yrs • Provides science to inform ESA listing decisions Warner Mountain Core Area Study
Questions? http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/sage-grouse/index.html